Peace agreement is an arrangement between warring parties that sets out how they will resolve conflict, usually following a political settlement. The success of peace agreements largely depends on the extent to which they are structurally sound, address core grievances, and include mechanisms for enforcement.
Peace negotiations are a complex undertaking. Among other things, they must address the deep-rooted cultural identities that often fuel conflict, which may manifest as contested forms of power, such as a sense of identity based on race, religion or ethnicity, and serve to mobilize communities for violent acts against each other.
In a world of globalisation and increasing connectivity, these issues are becoming increasingly important for preventing conflict and building stability. However, these underlying dynamics can be difficult to overcome, particularly when the parties have a history of inter-group tensions.
A successful peace process requires a high degree of mutual trust and a commitment by the warring parties to reach a peaceful resolution of their conflict. It also requires a significant level of external support, from third states and organisations like the United Nations and the African Union, to provide security guarantees, monitor implementation and facilitate ongoing negotiations.
A peace process can be facilitated by the presence of a neutral third party or through local mediation. The former is typically a government, while the latter involves the community and/or armed groups. The final stage of the peace process is the peace agreement itself, which can take a number of different forms, from an interim or preliminary agreement to a comprehensive peace treaty.